SLegacy99

That's an excellent point. The 3.5L produces more torque than the 3.3L.

jay.see

it still looks exactly the same

Koma

iTrader: (3)

If we're talking about the 450h, the electric motors could get more torque too.

Anthony

iTrader: (4)

not feelin it

front looks like shhhhhhhhhhhhhhit!

EDIT: everything not just front, nice steering wheel though! lol

RXSF

i saw it in person the other day at the auto show...it definately looks better in person

SLegacy99

Thats fine with me also. However, since there was only a modest HP increase of 27 that says to me that this powertrain is not direct injected like the GS450h. And that's ashame. One would think that all of the stops would be pulled out to make hybrids as efficient as possible. And direct injection is such an easy way. In battery charging situation, burning fuel more efficiently so that the ICE can shut off is optimal. And direct injection would certainly assist that.

spwolf

it is atkinson cycle engine, they pulled out all stops to make it more efficient :-). In fact, power drop is very modest for atkinson cycle, as 1.5 and 1.8 versions drop by 25-30% compared to their otto brothers, which probably means that electric power is bigger compared to GS450h...

SLegacy99

Perhaps. But what is the benefit of using the Atkinson cycle vs. a smaller engine, say like the 2.5L V6. However, the Escape hybrid runs off the Atkinson cycle and from what I hear and read it does so quite well.

TRDFantasy

I don't get what people are complaining about. You're going to be getting 295HP, and performance that Lexus claims is equivalent to a 4.5L V8. That could easily mean the RX450h has more torque from the electric motors than the GS450h. Yes while it's "only" a 27HP increase, you're also getting a fuel economy increase and emissions decrease. The RX hybrid will have, by far, the best fuel economy in its class.

The Escape Hybrid cannot even be compared in this situation, as it is a 4 cyl hybrid.

Koma

iTrader: (3)

The DI GR series engines I read somewhere were designed only for RWD applications (or in the case of the AWD Lexuses sedans, AWD applications built on RWD) not FWD or AWD based upon FWD.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i feel kind of awkward about it too... this whole power thing on the rx platform just doesn't make sense to me. i mean, i am never crazy about arguing why toyota doesn't put 300 hp in the camry, but i care about lexus putting "only" 340hp in the gs460.

the rx is not a performance platform by any means. if it's the x5, q7, cayenne, where they are more performance oriented, then having more power might be warranted. the rx is a normal suv platform, it's good at what it serves, taking people from point A to point B. power wouldn't be that much of my concern. even the current one is pretty decent to me on most speed already (in fact i would want better freaking BRAKES!!!!)

Oleg400

iTrader: (7)

spwolf

here is what new Crown got in Japan for new smart entry system, and new Avensis is getting it for Europe so I am guessing it will be on RX too... Notice two thin strips to close to the door, on the top of the handle as supposed to current button...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

that will make the car cleaner

encore888

Thx for the new SmartAccess info, spwolf! Looks stylistically nice, I hope the function is as easy or better. The way it 'blends in' reminds me of the headlamp washers on the LS 460, it's a feature that is integrated in such a way you don't really notice it unless really looking.